As the Miami Dolphins have addressed a number of roster holes in free agency, they could be leaving themselves a little exposed on the defensive line.
That unit took a hit Thursday afternoon when defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand, a valued member of the 2024 defense up front, agreed to contract terms with the Los Angeles Chargers, according to NFL Network.
Hand’s deal with the Chargers is for one year and up to $3.35 million, according to the report.
Hand, 29, emerged as a quality rotational defensive lineman under defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver for the Dolphins in 2024, seeing his greatest usage in the NFL since before the COVID-19 pandemic with the Detroit Lions in his early seasons as a fourth-round pick out of Alabama.
He played in every game, starting two for Miami last season and was on the field for 53 percent of defensive snaps while also contributing on special teams.
Hand notched a career-high 31 tackles last year, five for loss, with a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass batdown.
The Chargers also brought back Teair Tart, after he had a fine season in Los Angeles following his preseason release from the Dolphins last August.
Miami still has a defensive line that will be anchored by Zach Sieler and his back-to-back double-digit-sack seasons, with stout run defense to go with his interior pass rush.
The Dolphins will eagerly await word on the offseason intentions of impressive veteran and team leader Calais Campbell, who is a free agent and could opt to retire at 38.
Miami also has its own nose tackle, Benito Jones, as an unrestricted free agent. The team already decided to bring back defensive tackle Matt Dickerson on Monday.
It may not be an area the Dolphins have to spend big with Sieler already in place, especially if they also get a commitment from Campbell, but the team could use an infusion of young talent on the defensive front with its 11 picks in the late April draft.
Weaver, an NFL defensive end in his playing days, likes to make sure he has a rotation of defensive linemen capable of entering play to give starters a breather.
Originally Published: March 13, 2025 at 3:07 PM EDT
